Having an adequate legal description on the scope of an advanced practice nurse (APN) in state law is important because currently, each state has its own APN regulations and rules (Goudreau & Smolenski, 2014). The release of the Consensus Model set a uniform standard and guide the regulations of APN across the country (Joint Dialogue Group Report, 2008). However, barriers still exist that hamper APNs to practice to the full scope of their clinical training and nursing education. Many patients and their family face unnecessary restriction on access to high quality care and incur higher out-of-packet costs because of barriers faced by APNs (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [RWJF], 2013). The purpose of this discussion is to …show more content…
Hospital privilege is especially important in the continuity of care when there is an established provider-patient relationship. APNs understand the concerns of their patients and can help to make the hospital experience less stressful and more pleasant, thereby accelerating recovery and improving quality of life for their patients (Brassard & Smolenski, 2011). In addition of providing a seamless patient care, hospital privilege also affects the reimbursement of services. Some private insurance companies only allow a primary care provider on their list of provider panel and bill for office-based services if the ANPs have hospital privileges. However, data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) indicates that only about 44.8% of the APNs hold hospital privileges and 15.2% have long term care privileges in the United States (AANP, 2015). Thus, practice barriers affect the health care costs, quality, and the delivery of care to the …show more content…
Despite no data suggest more APN practice restrictions provide safer and better care than those in less restrictive states, states impose regulatory barriers on the scope of practice continue (Fairman, Rowe, Hassmiller, & Shalala, 2011). The Illinois state statue recognizes APNs as primary care providers who can diagnose illness and manage wellness. Additional roles of APN are providing advanced counseling, patient education, health education, and patient advocacy (Nurse Practice Act, 2007). Nevertheless, under Illinois Nurse Practice Act, APNs must have a written collaborative agreement with a physician in order to engage in clinical practice and prescribe medications. The collaborative agreement must specify the categories of care, treatment, or procedures that can be provided by APNs. Furthermore, APNs must discuss patients’ condition for whom a controlled substance is prescribed with the supervising physician monthly. Thus, the APN scope of practice is restricted and does not align with the Consensus Model